Summer records set to soar, temperatures forecast to rise over 30C across country

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

It's expected to be hot around the country this weekend, with temperatures expecting to reach 31C in Christchurch on Saturday.

It's gearing up to be a hot weekend for most of the country, with temperatures expected to get well over 30C in some areas.

'Definitely hot in those eastern areas that do get those northwest winds, but on the whole, it is going to be quite hot,' MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.

Blenheim was expected to be the hottest region over the weekend, with temperatures reaching 8 degrees Celsius over the average.

'Our current forecast for Blenheim on Saturday has a high of 35 [degrees Celsius]. That is currently the warmest in the country.'

It's gearing up to be a hot weekend of weather for most of the country, with summer temperature records souring.

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Christchurch and Tauranga were expected to warm up as well, reaching between 29 and 31C.

Unfortunately, Wellington will miss out on the hot weather - with 21C to 23C forecast for the capital and 25C is forecast for Auckland.

So far this summer, Wellington hasn't seen temperatures reach 25C or above. According to Niwa, there are only two summers that have come or gone without temperatures reaching 25C or above in the capital since 2000.

Those heading to the Hamilton Sevens would be in for a scorcher with temperatures expected to reach between 29C and 30C on Saturday and 31C on Sunday, which was about 4C to 5C above average, Ferris explained.

'Auckland [will be] warmer by comparison to Wellington but still sitting near to that average.'

Niwa said the forecast temperatures would break the summer record to date.

'The hottest days of the summer (so far) are coming from Friday into early next week,' it wrote on Twitter.

It wasn't just the heat that was making an appearance, Ferris said the weather was looking relatively fine too. However, there was short lived rain band moving up the West Coast of the South Island on Saturday, expected to impact Fiordland to Westland.

Dunedin was forecast to have a high of 25C on Saturday, but scattered showers would also linger thanks to a southerly change.

Other places that will have sunny skies and high temperatures this weekend include Masterton, with a high of 31C on Saturday and 32C on Sunday.

Kaitaia, with a high of 27C on Saturday and 28C on Sunday. Gisborne will reach 28C on both days.

While Rotorua would reach 28C on Saturday and 30C on Sunday.